Politeness Strategies in Formal and Informal Communication: A Sociolinguistic Perspective

Linguistic politeness is essential for effective communication and is widely studied in sociolinguistics and pragmatics. In second/foreign language learning, mastering politeness strategies ensures both grammatical accuracy and pragmatic appropriateness (Hymes, 1972; Brown & Levinson, 1987). Even advanced learners may struggle with speech acts, leading to misunderstandings, especially in intercultural interactions (Blum-Kulka & Olshtain, 1984; Cohen & Olshtain, 1993). Politeness is influenced by culture, social hierarchy, gender, and context. This study explores how politeness strategies are realized in formal and informal communication across languages and social settings.